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Celebrities Respond To 9-Year-Old Quaden Who Was Bullied Over His Dwarfism So Bad, He Wanted To Die

Bullying leads to pain, sorrow, and can even make people lose their will to live. A heartbreaking video is going viral and it once again brought the topic of bullying to the forefront of most people’s minds.

In the video filmed by his mother Yarraka Bayles, 9-year-old Quaden cries and says he wants to take his own life because he gets bullied over having Achondroplasia, a form of Dwarfism, every single day.

His mother uploaded a heartbreaking video of her child in distress to show the effects of bullying

According to Dr. Vaillancourt, “The situation is now fairly unique because of the tremendous outpouring of support Quaden has received.”

“I am happy to see this reaction and I believe that Quaden and his mother will benefit from knowing that there are many people in their corner,” she told Bored Panda.

The professor added: “What is also needed, however, is the children and educators in Quaden’s immediate environment to also show their support for him and other children who are being bullied.”

Dr. Vaillancourt pointed out that those people who believe that Quaden might have an anger issue are mistaken. “The people who think Quaden has an anger issue are pathologizing a normal reaction to bullying, and this is wrong. When children and adults are bullied they either get mad or they get sad. Protesting poor treatment by peers is appropriate.”

You can watch the full emotional video right here

“What is not appropriate is watching someone get bullied and doing nothing about it. Quaden’s reaction may seem extreme in isolation, but against the backdrop of being tormented for years, it makes sense. In fact, his reaction is one that I have seen far too often,” the expert explained.

“There is evidence that some targets of bullying go on to be perpetrators of bullying. We published a longitudinal study of children and youth showing this (Haltigan and Vaillancourt, 2014). The way to resolve this cycle of abuse is to prioritize the reduction of bullying. This requires a cultural shift in which bystanders actively dissuade the abuse of power,” Vaillancourt said.

She also noted that being the target of bullying is “so hurtful” that people will “try anything” to avoid this type of abuse.”

“But herein lies the problem. It’s not targets of bullying who need to change, it perpetrators. Indeed, every child has a fundamental, democratic right to be spared from abuse and humiliation.”

Members of Australia’s National Rugby League are supporting the 9-year-old as best they can

Australia’s National Rugby League invited Quaden to lead out the Indigenous team before the All Stars game against the Maori team.

Yarraka and Quaden both live in Brisbane in Australia. The 9-year-old’s mother was so desperate for help that she uploaded a video of her son at his low-point on Facebook. The video has over 17 million views at the time of writing and it raised the issue of what the devastating effects of bullying are.

“I’ve just picked my son up from school, witnessed a bullying episode, rang the principal, and I want people to know—parents, educators, teachers—this is the effect that bullying has,” the boy’s mother said in the video. Meanwhile, Quaden talked about taking his own life in the video because he couldn’t stand the amount of bullying he received at school. According to his mother, he has tried to take his own life before.

While most people sent their love and support to the boy and his mother, some internet users were skeptical and wondered whether Quaden has anger issues, perhaps, as a result of being bullied.

Jonas is a Bored Panda writer who previously worked as a world news journalist elsewhere. After getting his bachelor's degree in Politics and International Relations at the University of Manchester, he returned home and graduated from Vilnius University with a master's degree in Comparative Politics. Jonas enjoys writing articles ranging from serious topics like politics and social issues to more lighthearted things like art, pop culture, and nature. In his spare time, Jonas writes books and short stories and likes to draw lighthearted illustrations...

Denis is a photo editor at Bored Panda. After getting his bachelor's degree in Multimedia and Computer Design, he tried to succeed in digital design, advertising, and branding.Also, Denis really enjoys sports and loves everything related to board sports and water.

So you humiliate him more by posting a video of him sobbing and threatening suicide?? Wtf. Also if she is worried about it so much why is she allowing him to take photos with guns? Unless that's photoshopped but it still seems odd for this situation

Sometimes some people can't change schools due to only one school being available in the immediate area or other reasons. Besides, maybe they've already tried changing schools and he still gets bullied? Idk, there are a lot of plausible explanations

Mama Panda, it's good thing that's not the child's hand on the gun. It's not good thing that someone posted this image - it will only promote more violence they are upset about. The insensitive, attention craving morons.

You replied to me earlier. The mother has not allowed her son to have photos taken with guns imho. We need to address the bullies and not crap on the bullied. Do we really need another Columbine Massacre? Have some empathy for the mother and her son, be kind to others.

Another thing is, he goes from crazy suicidal to posting "You just have to stand up for yourself" like it's no big deal? Don't get me wrong, I 100% understand the struggle with bullying and child suicide rates, and it's horrible. But this does seem a little bit suspicious.

My kid has high functioning autism. She’s super smart but socially behind which has includes some bullying. I would not post a video though. I get that the mom is stressed as I know how that feels. I hope he gets the help he needs and that his situation improves

bullying is still real. even if she did it for the clout way to raise awareness on an important issue, I say for that they deserve it. They are the adertisers and advocators in disguise as victims if so.

Of course bullying is real. But why subject your kid to having the whole world see his suicidal breakdown? Did you know they've deleted almost all their social media since then because of the backlash? So basically she made it worse by putting it out there

Whose feelings am I Hurting? How can you sit there video taping your child who is having a mental break down and sobbing? Why does the world need to see it? She should have been hugging him and comforting him but instead just taped him for several minutes

No, just imagine how many other times she tried to solve the situation differently and it disn't work. This clearly was an act of desperation and it worked. He's getting much more love now, he visited Disneyland, and youre out here trying to be smarter than anyone else by saying "she humiliated her own son". Please just think before writing nonesense on the internet and hurt someone's feelings.

The true immature person is the mother. She could have handled the situation better, and needs to be called out. There's a difference between asking for help and humiliating your child on the internet.

Agnes, nothing worked before she did this. The question is will anything change in his school? I'm afraid that there will be resentment and envy that this boy got all the world's attention and pity.... and he's going to the Disneyland for free. I don't think that school, parents, his schoolmates will recognize how inhumane, irresponsible, shameless travesties of human being they are.

How do you know that his mother hasn't comforted him prior to this video? You don't know what transpired prior to the video but I imagine she is at the end of her rope with trying to get the bullies to stop harassing her son!!!!! Obviously ignoring the bullies hasn't worked either. Stop judging when you don't know the whole story. Oh and the gun pic...really? Look at the size of the hand holding the gun and then look at his little 9 year old hands. Get a friggin' clue!

This is so heartbreaking. Teen suicide is at record highs even though schools claim they have anti bullying policies and supposedly have zero tolerance. Schools can only do so much because of all the red tape and rules etc but it’s getting beyond a joke. My daughter was having severe suicidal thoughts last year and even started cutting because of bullying. She had someone telling her to do everyone a favour and go kill yourself, I wish you mum and dad killed themselves and you jump off head first into the concrete and die etc. We went to the police to make a report and there is no actual law where I live against someone telling someone else to go kill themselves. Bullies need to be held accountable and if they are responsible for a suicide they should be charged with manslaughter at the least. Parents also need to show a better example and speak to their kids.

So sorry to read your story. Hope she is feeling better about herself now, I can understand the depression it causes and sometimes the future looks bleak. But - bullies are ultimately cowards, your daughter is not. Hope the sun is shining now in your lives.

Thank you, she still has suicidal thoughts every now and then but since she started medication it isn’t a daily thought for her. She hasn’t cut herself for about 6months now as well. She sees a psychologist fortnightly and she has some supports at school too. Last year was her absolute worst year with her mental health. Fingers crossed things continue to get better this year.

Kate, though I too believe most bullies to be cowards, not all of them are. Some are narcissists and some are psychopaths and the terrible truth is that they love harming others. Where ever we are, more needs to be done to protect children, and adults for that matter, from bullying and above all, from the bullies. To take a bullied child out of school, for example, is not the solution, the bullies are the ones who should have to face up to real consequences, not their victims.

Foxxy, my prayers are with your daughter and your family. Bullying is horrible and it “seems” that no one ever catches the bully in action. I keep telling my children that kids can say awful things and to stick up for others. If they see bullying then they need to tell an adult immediately. That everyone is different and that is a good thing, it makes the world a better place. People need to support each other because we’re all just trying to live our best lives. Sending you kindness!!

Zero tolerance is bullshit. It's an escape route for schools so they can shut one eye and ignore the fact that they have bullying problems. Why not actually confront the bullies about why they did it. It doesn't always have to end with the kid being punished, but if the schools don't directly address the source of the problem, it just festers.

If every time someone tells someone else to go kill themselves, the law enforcing authorities wouldn't be able to handle it. Did you ever think about why are human beings treating each other in such a disrespectful, violet manner?? What do you think people? How much compassion do you have for living sentient life ??? Aren't these phenomena inextricably connected???? Many wise sages of all ages think they are; violence breeds violence, period - end of confusion, wondering and asking why? !!!! "As long as man continues to be the ruthless destroyer of lower living beings, he will NEVER know HEALTH or PEACE. For as long as men massacre animals they WILL kill each other. Indeed, he who sows the seed of murder and pain cannot reap joy and love." - Pythagoras, Greek mathematician & philosopher (circa 570 - 480 BC/BCE) .....even if you don't like geometry, you must admit this wise guy is right. His words were tested by time and confirmed by reality, what goes around comes around!!

Foxxy, I’m so sorry for your daughters’s experience and glad you’re doing everything you can to support and protect her! Regarding resilience (hidden comment below): Resilience is indeed needed, but resilience isn’t something that’s mustered up by the individual. It’s cultivated. And one of the biggest factors in resiliency is connection to school and community. One reason bullying is so destructive is that it isolates its victims. By all means let’s have a conversation about what builds kids’ resilience. But let’s not judge those who are struggling, whose resilience has been worn down by years of abuse. Let’s build their resilience by showing them that we care and by making sure that abusive behavior is not tolerated. Let’s build the resiliency of the community by putting away our screens, talking to our neighbors, mentoring kids and modeling and talking about values that include respect for all its members.

Listen to what you’re saying. If you told me to kill myself and I was stupid enough to do it then you’re going to jail. How dumb is that? Teach your children to have some self worth and confidence and it won’t be an issue.

You obviously have NO idea how powerful words can be and about mental illness. When someone is constantly telling you how worthless you are, no one will care if you die, you will do everyone a favour if you kill yourself etc you start to believe it. The bullies need to be held accountable.

Hey here’s a thought. Not all kids have the cognitive ability to be resilient and some have parents/guardians that don’t care etc. And don’t forget the fact that everyone is different, some are more resilient, some are academic, some are funny, some are sensitive, some are inventive etc. Even if 2 kids were brought up the same doesn’t mean they will both be the same. Trust me we have tried and tried and tried to help her build resilience including her Occupational therapist, Psychologist, Teachers, student councillors, specialised social programs, behavioural psychologist.

So you humiliate him more by posting a video of him sobbing and threatening suicide?? Wtf. Also if she is worried about it so much why is she allowing him to take photos with guns? Unless that's photoshopped but it still seems odd for this situation

Sometimes some people can't change schools due to only one school being available in the immediate area or other reasons. Besides, maybe they've already tried changing schools and he still gets bullied? Idk, there are a lot of plausible explanations

Mama Panda, it's good thing that's not the child's hand on the gun. It's not good thing that someone posted this image - it will only promote more violence they are upset about. The insensitive, attention craving morons.

You replied to me earlier. The mother has not allowed her son to have photos taken with guns imho. We need to address the bullies and not crap on the bullied. Do we really need another Columbine Massacre? Have some empathy for the mother and her son, be kind to others.

Another thing is, he goes from crazy suicidal to posting "You just have to stand up for yourself" like it's no big deal? Don't get me wrong, I 100% understand the struggle with bullying and child suicide rates, and it's horrible. But this does seem a little bit suspicious.

My kid has high functioning autism. She’s super smart but socially behind which has includes some bullying. I would not post a video though. I get that the mom is stressed as I know how that feels. I hope he gets the help he needs and that his situation improves

bullying is still real. even if she did it for the clout way to raise awareness on an important issue, I say for that they deserve it. They are the adertisers and advocators in disguise as victims if so.

Of course bullying is real. But why subject your kid to having the whole world see his suicidal breakdown? Did you know they've deleted almost all their social media since then because of the backlash? So basically she made it worse by putting it out there

Whose feelings am I Hurting? How can you sit there video taping your child who is having a mental break down and sobbing? Why does the world need to see it? She should have been hugging him and comforting him but instead just taped him for several minutes

No, just imagine how many other times she tried to solve the situation differently and it disn't work. This clearly was an act of desperation and it worked. He's getting much more love now, he visited Disneyland, and youre out here trying to be smarter than anyone else by saying "she humiliated her own son". Please just think before writing nonesense on the internet and hurt someone's feelings.

The true immature person is the mother. She could have handled the situation better, and needs to be called out. There's a difference between asking for help and humiliating your child on the internet.

Agnes, nothing worked before she did this. The question is will anything change in his school? I'm afraid that there will be resentment and envy that this boy got all the world's attention and pity.... and he's going to the Disneyland for free. I don't think that school, parents, his schoolmates will recognize how inhumane, irresponsible, shameless travesties of human being they are.

How do you know that his mother hasn't comforted him prior to this video? You don't know what transpired prior to the video but I imagine she is at the end of her rope with trying to get the bullies to stop harassing her son!!!!! Obviously ignoring the bullies hasn't worked either. Stop judging when you don't know the whole story. Oh and the gun pic...really? Look at the size of the hand holding the gun and then look at his little 9 year old hands. Get a friggin' clue!

This is so heartbreaking. Teen suicide is at record highs even though schools claim they have anti bullying policies and supposedly have zero tolerance. Schools can only do so much because of all the red tape and rules etc but it’s getting beyond a joke. My daughter was having severe suicidal thoughts last year and even started cutting because of bullying. She had someone telling her to do everyone a favour and go kill yourself, I wish you mum and dad killed themselves and you jump off head first into the concrete and die etc. We went to the police to make a report and there is no actual law where I live against someone telling someone else to go kill themselves. Bullies need to be held accountable and if they are responsible for a suicide they should be charged with manslaughter at the least. Parents also need to show a better example and speak to their kids.

So sorry to read your story. Hope she is feeling better about herself now, I can understand the depression it causes and sometimes the future looks bleak. But - bullies are ultimately cowards, your daughter is not. Hope the sun is shining now in your lives.

Thank you, she still has suicidal thoughts every now and then but since she started medication it isn’t a daily thought for her. She hasn’t cut herself for about 6months now as well. She sees a psychologist fortnightly and she has some supports at school too. Last year was her absolute worst year with her mental health. Fingers crossed things continue to get better this year.

Kate, though I too believe most bullies to be cowards, not all of them are. Some are narcissists and some are psychopaths and the terrible truth is that they love harming others. Where ever we are, more needs to be done to protect children, and adults for that matter, from bullying and above all, from the bullies. To take a bullied child out of school, for example, is not the solution, the bullies are the ones who should have to face up to real consequences, not their victims.

Foxxy, my prayers are with your daughter and your family. Bullying is horrible and it “seems” that no one ever catches the bully in action. I keep telling my children that kids can say awful things and to stick up for others. If they see bullying then they need to tell an adult immediately. That everyone is different and that is a good thing, it makes the world a better place. People need to support each other because we’re all just trying to live our best lives. Sending you kindness!!

Zero tolerance is bullshit. It's an escape route for schools so they can shut one eye and ignore the fact that they have bullying problems. Why not actually confront the bullies about why they did it. It doesn't always have to end with the kid being punished, but if the schools don't directly address the source of the problem, it just festers.

If every time someone tells someone else to go kill themselves, the law enforcing authorities wouldn't be able to handle it. Did you ever think about why are human beings treating each other in such a disrespectful, violet manner?? What do you think people? How much compassion do you have for living sentient life ??? Aren't these phenomena inextricably connected???? Many wise sages of all ages think they are; violence breeds violence, period - end of confusion, wondering and asking why? !!!! "As long as man continues to be the ruthless destroyer of lower living beings, he will NEVER know HEALTH or PEACE. For as long as men massacre animals they WILL kill each other. Indeed, he who sows the seed of murder and pain cannot reap joy and love." - Pythagoras, Greek mathematician & philosopher (circa 570 - 480 BC/BCE) .....even if you don't like geometry, you must admit this wise guy is right. His words were tested by time and confirmed by reality, what goes around comes around!!

Foxxy, I’m so sorry for your daughters’s experience and glad you’re doing everything you can to support and protect her! Regarding resilience (hidden comment below): Resilience is indeed needed, but resilience isn’t something that’s mustered up by the individual. It’s cultivated. And one of the biggest factors in resiliency is connection to school and community. One reason bullying is so destructive is that it isolates its victims. By all means let’s have a conversation about what builds kids’ resilience. But let’s not judge those who are struggling, whose resilience has been worn down by years of abuse. Let’s build their resilience by showing them that we care and by making sure that abusive behavior is not tolerated. Let’s build the resiliency of the community by putting away our screens, talking to our neighbors, mentoring kids and modeling and talking about values that include respect for all its members.

Listen to what you’re saying. If you told me to kill myself and I was stupid enough to do it then you’re going to jail. How dumb is that? Teach your children to have some self worth and confidence and it won’t be an issue.

You obviously have NO idea how powerful words can be and about mental illness. When someone is constantly telling you how worthless you are, no one will care if you die, you will do everyone a favour if you kill yourself etc you start to believe it. The bullies need to be held accountable.

Hey here’s a thought. Not all kids have the cognitive ability to be resilient and some have parents/guardians that don’t care etc. And don’t forget the fact that everyone is different, some are more resilient, some are academic, some are funny, some are sensitive, some are inventive etc. Even if 2 kids were brought up the same doesn’t mean they will both be the same. Trust me we have tried and tried and tried to help her build resilience including her Occupational therapist, Psychologist, Teachers, student councillors, specialised social programs, behavioural psychologist.